Four men believed to be "crash and grab" thieves at Donoho's in custody

Heath Hixson

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 23, 2003

The suspects were arrested just before dawn Tuesday in connection with the burglary after a car chase into Harris County and a hunt by authorities in an apartment complex near FM 1960.

Valuables from Donoho's, located at 9590 Six Pines Drive, were recovered from the truck. The vehicle was found crashed into the entrance of the apartment complex.

The suspects were later found inside an apartment with what authorities believe is loot from three other burglaries. Harris County authorities are holding the four on charges related to the other burglaries believed to have taken place earlier that day.

Montgomery County authorities, however, are waiting to file charges against the foursome, but believe the men are in fact connected to the burglary.

"We have to be able to tie them to the truck and tie the truck to the business," said Lt. Dan Norris, a Montgomery County Sheriff's Department detective. "We do not want to charge them too early."

Detectives say a group of men backed a red Dodge pickup truck through the front entrance of Donoho's at about 4 a.m. Tuesday to gain entry into the business. The men then fled in the vehicle with an unknown amount of store valuables. No jewelry was taken.

Shortly after officers from area law enforcement agencies responded to the scene and investigated debris, an alert tow-truck driver contacted authorities to say he was following the pickup described as wanted in connection with the burglary.

After a chase into Harris County, initiated by Oak Ridge North police officers, the driver of the Dodge truck crashed into the entrance of an apartment complex in north Harris County, located at 211 Highland Crossing near FM 1960. The suspects then fled on foot.

Precinct 4 Harris County Constable deputies unleashed a canine officer that led authorities to an apartment in the complex. After a deputy outside the apartment briefly interviewed a man, the deputy noticed materials in the apartment potentially from other burglaries after the door was opened. The suspects then fled through the back of the apartment and were later arrested after a foot chase, according to Precinct 4 Assistant Chief Woody Mitchell.

The suspects are identified as Luke Booker, 20; Dwayne Windom, 22; Josh Booker, 21; and Alex Jundi, 20. They are currently being held in the Harris County Jail.

Mitchell said deputies found more than $50,000 in valuables from the three other burglaries believed to have been committed earlier Tuesday and late Monday.

He said the foursome would likely be charged with either felony theft or burglary charges in connection with breaking and entering into a Kingwood jewelry store, an FM 1960 liquor store and a video game store.

The value of objects stolen from Donoho's and found in the truck was less than the amount of damage to the building's entrance, Norris said. He said Montgomery County authorities have time to build a case against the four before charges will be filed related to the Donoho's burglary.

A man at the scene, who identified himself as the Donoho's owner, declined comment about the burglary.